Automatic electric-light buoy.



H. HA'RTMAN. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIGHT BUOY. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. I916.

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H. HARTEWAN. AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC LIGHT mm.

APPLICATION FILED MM!- 20, I916- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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- HANS EARTH/IAN, OF NEW YORK,

.N. 5. A'SSIGNOR TO JULIUS "BRIDGES, OF N1iiW YORK, N. Y.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1, 1217..

Application filed. March 20, 1916. Serial No. 85,469.

To a ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, l'IANsHARTMAN, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Automatic Tlle ctric-l'iight Buoys, ,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric lightbuoys and the main object in view is to provide an automatic electric buoy of simple construction which generates its'ow'n electricity by deriving motive power from the movement of the sea; According to the present invention the power required to operate the electric generator is obtained through the displacement of'a weight following the laws of gravity, when the buoy is rocked or inclined through the motion the water due totidal or other currents;

The above and other objects, such as will hereinafter appeaigfl attain by oneform of apparatus illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein ;-Figure 1 is an elevational View illustrating the improved buoy in use, and Fig. 2 is a view of the same device but on a larger scale and partly broken away and partlyin section.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 1 designates the body of the buoy which, by way of example, is shown as a vertical tank having a bottom integral with the side. At its top, this buoy is closed by means of a cover or closure plate 20 hermetically joined to the tank 1. This tank and cover may be made of any suitable material, for instance, steel. Disposed diametrically and in a vertical row within the buoy 1, are bearing bars i and 17 and a bar 16. At the axis of tank 1, a shaft 2 is journaled as in a thrust ball or other bearing and in the bearing bar 4:. Above bar 41, a gear wheel. 8 is keyed to shaft 2 and meshes with a pinion 9 fixed or keyed to a shaft 10 journaled in the bars l: and 17 and having a gear wheel 11 keyed or fixed thereto. Shaft 2 is turned according to the inclination of the buoy 1 through the medium of a crank arm 6 keyed to the shaft and which moves by gravity, aided by the weight or ball 7 secured to it at its outer end.

A suitable electric, preferably a magneto, generator is employed at 13 as by means of brackets 14: and 15. The main shaft of this generator designated 18, is journaled in bars 16 and 17 and carries a pinion 12 which meshes with gear wheel 11. Brackets 28 and 29 support a suitable form of condenser 27 within the buoy 1 from bar. 16. The electric lamp which serves as the usual signal remains above the water. as snown in Fig 1, and is supported by means of a tube 19 connected to closure member 20 and by strut rods or braces 22, 23 and 241- fastened to closure member 20 and to the tube19. A conductor 25 joins lamp 21 and generator 13. while a conductor 26 joins generator 13 and condenser 27. Also a conduct-or 26 is fastened to lamp 21 and to the condenser. Lamp 21 is preferably construeted on the principle ofthe well known Geissler tubes, that is without filament but filled with gas only .to be illuminated by a high tension current. The particular construction of the lamp however, does not form a part of the present invention.

In order tostabilize the buoy and insure its tendency to seek a vertical. position,-a tube- 30 extends centrally and downwardly from buoy land its lower end is provided with a weight 1 The modus operand Z is as follows uThe device is placed in the ,water anchored in the usual way, and-due to the weight 31 which acts as a counter-weight, it initially assumes a vertical position and always has a tendency to seek such a position. Tube 19 extends above the water so as to support the lamp 21 uppermost. The motion of the water causes the buoy to tilt or rock and during the tilting of the buoy, the crank 6 and weight 7 move in the proper directions by gravity and accordingly turn the shaft 2 thereby turning gear wheel 8, pinion 9, shaft 10, gear wheel 11, pinion 12, shaft 18 and operating the generator 13 so that the electric current will. pass through the lamp 21, conductor 25, conductor 26, condenser 27, conductor 26 and the generator. While the gearing is in operation, of course, the generator 13 is operated and lamp 21 is lighted. However, if the water is rather calm, the light 21 will only be lighted when the water has sufficient motion to rock or tilt the buoy. The action of the electric generator 13 is intensified by means of the condenser 27 which will accumulate the electric currents produced by the generator which may be too weak to produce light.

It will be noted that this device is simple," is inexpensive in construction and does not require constant supervision While in operation. In addition, intricate mechanism is avoidedras well as'storage batteries, automatic cut-outs, switches and other electrical apparatus. The invention is capable of use especially for coastwise navigation and at points where special supervision of a light buoy would be difiicult or expensive. However, limitations in this connection are not to be imposed since the in- I of the buoy, a second shaft, gearing means coacting with the first and second shafts,

said second shaft being journaled in another of said bars, a generator supported from another of said bars having a shaft j ournaled therein, gearing coacting with the last mentioned shaft andwith the second shaft, a condenser, and electric circuit means to "connect the generator with said condenser and with the source of light.

2. Anelectric light buoy including a floating body, a closure member therefor, an electric light, means to. support said lamp copies of this patent may be obtained for within said buoy, a vertical shaft journaled within one of said bars, a crank connected to said shaft, said crank being provided "with a weight to operate the crank by gravity during the motion of the buoy, a second shaft mounted upon one of said bars, gearing means coacting between the first and second shafts, a generator supported upon one of said bars having gearing coacting with the last mentioned shaft and second shaft, and an electric circuit to connect the generator and lamp as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An electric light buoy including a floating body, an electric source of light suitably supported in said floating body, counterweighting means for the buoy, a series of bars arranged horizontally within the buoy, a vertical shaft journaled in one of said bars, a crank provided with a weight to operate said crank by gravity during the motion of the buoy, a second shaft journaled in one of said bars, gearing coacting with said first and second mentioned shafts, a

generator suitably supported by one of said bars, an electric circuit to connect the generator with the source of light substantially as described.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this thirteenth day of March A. D. 1916.

HANS HARTMAN. Witnesses:

JAMES H. GOULD, JERE. F. I-IAULEY.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patemza. Washington, D. C. 

